Anxiety Sensitivity Among Smokers During a Reduction Attempt: The Impact of Hatha Yoga

Smokers with elevated anxiety sensitivity (AS) have poorer smoking cessation outcomes. Smokers with elevated anxiety/depression report worse smoking cessation outcomes and greater AS. Thus, it is important to examine the utility of intervention strategies that target AS in the context of smoking cessation. Hatha yoga encourages the implementation of present-centered awareness in the face of discomfort, which may be a potential therapeutic strategy to reduce AS. The current study examines the impact of hatha yoga on AS among 51 smokers. Participants were randomly assigned to hatha yoga or wellness control on their quit/reduce smoking day. Compared to the control, the yoga condition reported significantly less AS at one-week follow-up. This relationship was moderated by baseline anxiety/depression, such that among individuals with elevated anxiety/depression, yoga was related to less AS than the control. Hatha yoga may serve as an additional strategy for successful smoking cessation in individuals with high AS.